94 q’s, 627 points raw score. Best: G3BJ 33 points, K6XX 27 pts (including x3 for qrp).
3h 45m op time
5 watts to a 65’/65′ inverted L with 16 65′ radials (originally intended for 80m).
Did anyone give this a try? I worked AB1BX in Warren but didn’t hear anyone else.
This contest is one of my favorites even tho 160 is not very qrp-friendly. The best part is that you get rewarded for taking the time to work QRP stations by a 4x multiplier, so I don’t feel like such a pest :). The other unusual feature is that your score grows as everyone submits logs and you get those credits. Although you probably don’t pull ahead of anyone. The downside is they post your longest qso, and the pressure is on for it to be someone other than K1LT.
Anyway last year I worked 5 in Eu but this year I wasn’t getting heard. G3BJ was not the strongest (probably due to 400w limit there) but he had the patience to stay with it for my only one. Lots of Europeans were called, even RW7K, just not quite workable. US conditions seemed better though and I got several 4 & 5 pointers and K6XX, who must have some remarkable rx capability because he was pretty weak here. The activity in this is pretty amazing considering it’s CW only and with all the frustrations of 160, like noise and the mysterious large antenna systems. A lot of qrp entries. Many others outscored me with seemingly no better antenna systems than mine so more research seems to be needed! —
Dave K1SX
Dave – As does W1XX, I enjoy your input on here … operator contest experiences are indeed welcome!
You did VERY well with your QRP effort there, esp. considering you used only about a quarter of your allotted op time (14 hrs).
The Stew Perry 160m CW event in December has also been a fave of mine for awhile though I’ve only been available to operate in it sporadically since 2009. W1AN (John) & I did a multi-op effort in the Dec. 2016 SP-TBDC from his fine W1DX station and won the overall Low Power M-Op category, making 324 QSOs/2652 pts (incl. 42 Eu and *just* missing out on an almost completed VK contact at sunrise – still a thrill running LP!). Our score was competitive as a top ten worldwide for all LP Single-Op scores as well as when comparing vs. all of the High Power M-Op scores. Appears 876 logs were submitted in 2016 (setting an SP record), while almost 100 more logs arrived in 2017, so the contest is certainly popular and still growing.
Speaking of 160m events … the real big one – CQWW 160m CW – happens at the end of this month. Time to get one’s station ready for more low-band contesting!
73, Bill W1WBB